Ahead of the Boxing-day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), a lot of cricketing pundits were predicting that India will suffer a 4-0 loss against Australia without regular skipper, Virat Kohli, especially after registering its lowest ever Test total of 36 in Adelaide. However, the team addressed the issues by making the required changes to make a stunning comeback in Melbourne. Team India played with confidence under Ajinkya Rahane‘s captaincy has to be admired.
It wasn’t easy though for Team India after losing the toss at the MCG where the average first innings score in the last five Tests was around 440, but the India bowlers had different plans. Led by Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Ashwin, they managed to bundle out Australia for just 195 in the first innings. India then batted well thanks to Rahane’s excellent century and took a more than the decent lead of 131 runs.
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With Day 3 being the day to bat on the MCG pitch with the ball not doing much and many felt it is a great chance for the hosts to set a huge target. Then again, the India bowlers bowled with immense discipline and made scoring runs difficult and despite Umesh Yadav getting injured, the reduced four-man attack put the screws to the hosts as Australia was reduced to 99/6. Cameron Green and Pat Cummins though had other ideas as they played out more than an hour to keep India at bay.
With only a lead of two runs at the end of Day 2, Australia would’ve hoped for their overnight duo to score some score runs, but the Indian bowlers were relentless and didn’t give away easy runs. Jasprit Bumrah surprised Pat Cummins with a well-directed bouncer and dismissed him.
Cameron Green though was looking in absolute control and after Cummins; dismissal, he started to break off the shackles, but then Siraj dropped one short to eke out a pull and the batsman did just that with Ravindra Jadeja pouching the catch with a well-timed jump at mid-wicket.
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Australia showed some resistance even after Green’s dismissal, but then Siraj nipped out Nathan Lyon while Ravi Ashwin ended Josh Hazlewood’s resistance to bundled Australia out for 200 runs. India had to chase down 70 runs during win the MCG Test on Day 4 but Adelaide’s 36 all-out was still fresh in the minds. Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara were dismissed early, bit Ajinkya Rahane and debutant Shubman gill chased down the target in the 16th over.
Here is how the cricketing fraternity reacted to the victory of Team India at the MCG:
What a win this is, absolutely amazing effort by the whole team. Couldn't be happier for the boys and specially Jinks who led the team to victory amazingly. Onwards and upwards from here 💪🇮🇳
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) December 29, 2020
#INDvAUS #AUSvIND https://t.co/cpb0rUKMEF pic.twitter.com/QemqRrYuMJ
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 29, 2020
A really special win at the MCG.
Great Determination and great character. Rahane led from the fron,the bowlers were terrific and Gill is chill. pic.twitter.com/X3UO8H2LgR— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) December 29, 2020
Well done India 🇮🇳…absolutely brilliant. Has to be one of the most impressive overseas win given the circumstances coming into this game 👏🏻👏🏻#AUSvIND
— Ajit Agarkar (@imAagarkar) December 29, 2020
Well done team India @BCCI. Never underestimate a wounded tiger 😉#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/4kCHgRyW4i
— DK (@DineshKarthik) December 29, 2020
Lot of positives from this win. Rahane led the side brilliantly, bowlers were relentless but the biggest positive is the performance of two debutants. Both of them were confident and not overawed by the big occasion. Strength of Indian cricket is their strong bench strength.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 29, 2020
What a win guys 🇮🇳🇮🇳 congratulations to the team !great performance skipper @ajinkyarahane88 @imjadeja @Jaspritbumrah93 @ashwinravi99 and debut Guys @RealShubmanGill and #mohammedsiraj 🇮🇳💥💥🎉🎉🇮🇳🇮🇳 1-1 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/YhD0QOnN6r
— Rahul Sharma (@ImRahulSharma3) December 29, 2020
अद्भुत भारत, अतुल्य भारत, 'अजिंक्य' भारत! 🇮🇳 #INDvAUS #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/KIgNjfe945
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 29, 2020
To win a Test match without Virat, Rohit, Ishant & Shami is a terrific achievement.
Loved the resilience and character shown by the team to put behind the loss in the 1st Test and level the series.
Brilliant win.
Well done TEAM INDIA! 👏🏻 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/64A8Xes8NF— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 29, 2020
Shubman is a special player. We are witnessing the early days of India’s future batting superstar. Remember his debut. You might have to revisit it a good few times while writing eulogies in 2030. How he started as an opener and then settled down in the middle order for good…
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 29, 2020
Indns make it 1-All to silence the 4-0 OZ cry…nice to remain calm as @ajinkyarahane88 & deliver.There were a couple of hiccups on way to 8 Wkts triumph..but all’s well that ends well..this OZ batting is pretty average-read mediocre-so Indns can win the series..InshaAllah..!!
— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) December 29, 2020
But the ball hitting the stumps 😳🙃 …. I going sleep 🛌 absolute Nonsense #AUSvsIND
— Tino95 (@tinobest) December 29, 2020
Great strength of team and individual character to bounce back after the ignominy of Adelaide… Brilliant from Team India.. Now looking forward to 2021.. #Ausvsindia
— Kartik Murali (@kartikmurali) December 29, 2020
